Submitted by Fox First at Ten on September 21st
SPOKANE, Wash – Former Spokane Police Officer Karl Thompson will be sentenced November 15th for his role in the 2006 beating death of Otto Zehm.
More than a year ago, a jury convicted Thompson of using excessive force and lying about it.
Thompson's defense team requested a new trial; however on Tuesday, Judge Fred Van Sickle denied that request, saying the conviction should stand.
Thompson has been allowed to walk free in the wake of his conviction, but depending on what happens at that sentencing hearing, he may be taken directly into custody at that time.
Federal prosecutors say they expect to call 2-3 witnesses on November 15th, and Thompson's defense team expects to call 3-5 of their own. The proceedings are expected to last the entire day.
The attorney for the Zehm family was also at today's hearing, and family members of Otto Zehm will be allowed to speak or provide written statements at Thompson's sentencing.
Neither prosecutors nor defense counsel could comment today about the hearing or the sentence they will be pursuing. But this may be the last step in this very high profile case that's already been six years in the making.
